A young man throws his skateboard to the ground just before reaching Plaza dels Àngels, popularly called Macba because the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona is located there. His friends, who join him on a break between classes, repeat the gesture and begin to slide.
The scene has been repeated daily and at any time for years and many neighbors have not gotten used to it, not only to the noise of the wheels as they wind along the pavement, but also to the crowds that gather there at certain times, with the merriment that this entails. . “Sometimes they bring speakers with music and stay up late, especially on weekends. But that is not important. I'm more worried that we have to watch carefully so they don't run over us. And woe betide me for complaining, because I'm the bad guy,” says Luis, who lives two blocks away but prefers to give a fictitious name to “not get into trouble.”
Beyond the neighborhood conflicts, it is undeniable that the square has become a reference in the world of skateboarding. People come there from different corners of the planet, attracted to see the place leading many of the rankings of the best places to skate. Californian Tony Alva, considered one of the most influential skateboarders of all time, remembers her fondly. “It is iconic, as is the city, one of the best and most prepared in the world for skating,” he assures La Vanguardia.
Neither Alva, nor any of the young people (and not so young) who come there from different places every day with their board can believe that this paradise is one step away from disappearing. Between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027, two projects that have caused major neighborhood battles are expected to be completed: the construction of a new CAP in the old Misericòrdia chapel and the expansion of Macba, which involves eliminating the podium dominated by skaters , returning more public space.
“The project is a virtuous symbiosis between culture, health and green areas,” the mayor, Jaume Collboni, summarized at a press conference, remarking that from the council “we do not want the public use of this space to be monopolized.” For this reason, he proposes “a 21st century square that responds to the demands of a city that has to face climate change” and with which both “the residents of the Raval and the users of culture” will benefit.
For her part, Maria Buhigas, chief architect of the City Council, denies that the remodeling is a strategy to expel skaters or any other group. “It is about generating more transversal living areas for older people, young people and children.”
Skater María Gibert, 21, regrets the decision. “This square is unique. It seems incredible that when it was created no one was thinking about us. The ramps, the type of floor, the ledges... It is the perfect place. There are tricks that can only be found here. Those from the world know it and that's why they come. It is a place of pilgrimage for skaters and, if they destroy it, it could have consequences, not only for us, but also for tourism.” She only learned to ride the board five years ago and soon she discovered how good she was at it. So much so that several brands have been interested in it so that it becomes their image.
Fashion and skateboards have gone hand in hand for years and have their own style: “Wide, comfortable and modern.” But it's not just the catwalks that have noticed the skaters. The skate movement has also brought with it a cultural revolution, as it goes hand in hand with street art, graffiti and urban music.
Aware of this, DJ Sören Manzoni, also known as the creator of the Nasty Mondays parties at a well-known club, opened Manzoni's Garage to the public in Barcelona, the first skate museum in Spain. A mysterious place because, to know its location, you must contact Sören himself through networks, although, for the moment, he admits, “it is upside down.” Waiting for it to open its doors again is worth it, since there are more than 1,000 boards, some more than 25 years old, that shine there. Many could be seen last year at Casa Seat, in the exhibition Fusta i rodes, which explained the beginnings of this activity.
Another exhibition that can be enjoyed until the end of March is the MOSS Skate Art Exhibition, in downtown Palo Alto, where different custom boards by more than 90 artists are on display, which will be auctioned to raise funds for the construction of sanitation and water systems. drinkable in Africa.
Equally notable is the permanent collection found in different rooms of the Sant Jordi Hostel Sagrada Familia, the city's first themed hotel dedicated to the world of skateboarding. “We have donations from renowned professionals who have left them as souvenirs,” as well as “an exhibition with real skateboards that shows the progression of skateboard design from the 60s to the 90s,” explains Laura Cahís from the marketing team, which reminds that the hotel can be a “paradise” for fans “as it has a half pipe ramp for skating inside,” which many skaters take advantage of to train.
Photography is another of the artistic branches that has fallen in love with skateboarding. More and more photographers, professional and amateur, are seen around Macba, ready to capture the best jumps. This causes some discomfort among some skaters, who prefer to remain anonymous knowing that they are often judged for practicing there. “If you want to dedicate yourself to this, it is important to earn their trust. And for that you need to live with them, not only so that they know you, but to learn the tricks and know when to shoot,” confesses Andrea DoSouto, who discovered what would later become his profession in the aforementioned square. She began to upload snapshots of herself on the Internet and her life ended up taking her to Los Angeles, where she no longer photographs skaters, but rather she is immersed in different projects, such as the poster for the new film by filmmaker Beatriz Sanchis.
Alfred Cano 'Bipo' is not at all surprised by all the cultural and tourist offerings related to skateboarding that have emerged in the city in recent years. He himself has seen how Escola Skatia, a skating center of which he is the founder and director, has significantly increased its students in a short time. “More and more schools are opening their doors, aware of the interest, especially since it became an Olympian in Tokyo 2020,” says Cano. For this reason, it seems contradictory to him that “now that skateboarding is experiencing one of its best sporting and cultural moments, the city wants to end one of its most emblematic places. This sport has brought people from different countries together to a point that a few years ago was considered black.”
Joan Galcerán agrees with him. He is one of the lucky few who can dedicate himself exclusively to what until not so long ago was a hobby. He is coordinator of this discipline at Extreme Barcelona, the extreme sports festival that takes place every year at the end of summer. “It is no coincidence that the contest chooses this city,” says the 31-year-old, who regrets that, “despite this,” it continues to be a persecuted practice.” The chosen place, the Parc del Fòrum, is not trivial either, as it is another of the city's favorite places to skate, along with the Arc de Triomf area or the Universitat and dels Païs Catalans squares, located in Sants station, to which are added different skateparks spread throughout Barcelona, such as Les Corts, Mar Bella or Via Favència.
Pedro Temboury, author of the documentary Monopatín (2013), which traces the origins of this practice in Spain, remembers one of the phrases most repeated by the group: skateboarding is not a crime, and points out one of the keys to the success of Plaza del Macba: “Its location. It is in the center and it is difficult to find places that invite you to skate so well connected, since most are located on the outskirts. This is something almost unprecedented, and hence the word of mouth. The Macba square is the Pompidou center or the MoMA of skateboarding worldwide.”
In addition to its location, Marta Marín, professor of aesthetics and image analysis at the Ramón Llull University, highlights “the Mediterranean climate and the active lifestyle that the city embraces, which, although positive, can generate conflicts. The Administration must find a balance, since it is convenient for both parties.
